John 3:30 - Reflecting and Uplifting Jesus Not Self!

Joh.3:30; Reflecting and Uplifting Jesus Not Self!

John 3:30 (KJV)  He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:30 (NIV)  He must become greater; I must become less.

These are the last words by John the Baptist recorded in this 
Gospel. [New Bible Companion] 

John's willingness to decrease in importance shows unusual 
humility. Pastors and other Christian leaders can be tempted to focus more 
on the success of their ministries than on Christ. Beware of those 
who put more emphasis on their own achievements than on God's 
kingdom. [Life Application SB] 

It was not with envy that he said that Jesus must increase and 
he must decrease; it was with joy. It may be that sometimes we 
would do well to remember that it is not to ourselves we must try to 
attach people; it is to Jesus Christ. It is not for ourselves we seek 
the loyalty of men; it is for him. [Barclay Commentary] 

How great a protection John's attitude is from the Christian's 
greatest temptation: pride. Even the little man is tempted to be proud 
that he's so humble.... The person who is ready to accept a John-like 
role in life will, like John, find himself often "full of joy" (v. 
29). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

Decreasing into his purpose: Get to the end of yourself where 
you can do nothing, but where He does everything. [In His Time; My 
Utmost For His Highest re Mat.3:11] 

The shining forth of the glory of Christ eclipses the lustre of 
all other glory. The glory that stands in competition with Christ, 
that of the world and the flesh, decreases and loses ground in the 
soul as the knowledge and love of Christ increase and get ground; 
(Matthew Henry's Commentary) 

It is sufficient honor for man if he may be permitted to point 
sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ. No work is so honorable and joyful as 
the ministry of the gospel; none are so highly honored as those who 
are permitted to stand near the Son of God, lead perishing men to 
his cross. Compare . (Barnes' Notes) 

These words form a truly fitting motto for every aspiring 
servant of Christ. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary] 

Exalting Christ rather than ourselves is a true measure of 
greatness! [Victor Bible Background Commentary] 

When you look at a church steeple let it remind you of the 
thought in this passage that He, Jesus, must increase in my life as I, 
self, must decrease just as a church steeple becomes smaller and 
smaller the closer is gets to heaven. [Clayton Harmon] 

If you become a necessity to a soul, you are out of God's order. 
As a worker, your great responsibility is to be a friend of the 
Bridegroom. When once you see a soul in sight of the claims of Jesus Christ, 
you know that your influence has been in the right direction, and 
instead of putting out a hand to prevent the throes, pray that they grow 
ten times stronger until there is no power on earth or in hell that 
can hold that soul away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we 
become amateur providences; we come in and prevent God, and say--'This 
and that must not be.' Instead of proving friends of the Bridegroom, 
we put our sympathy in the way, and the soul will one day say--'That 
one was a thief, he stole my affections from Jesus, and I lost my 
vision of Him.' 
Beware of rejoicing with a soul in the wrong thing, but see that 
you do rejoice in the right thing. "The friend of the Bridegroom . . 
. rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice: this my joy 
therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." This is 
spoken with joy and not with sadness--at last they are to see the 
Bridegroom! And John says this is his joy. It is the absolute effacement of 
the worker, he is never thought of again. 
Watch for all you are worth until you hear the Bridegroom's 
voice in the life of another. Never mind what havoc it brings, what 
upsets, what crumblings of health, rejoice with divine hilarity when 
once His voice is heard. You may often see Jesus Christ wreck a life 
before He saves it. Oswald Chambers